Surname Schauf - Meaning and Origin
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Schauf: What does the surname Schauf mean?
The last name Schauf is of German origin, derived from the Middle High German word 'schouwe', which means 'shallow'. It is believed that the Schauf surname derived from a nickname for someone who lived near a shallow body of water. Alternatively, it could have been derived from an occupational name for someone who made shallow wooden dishes or cups.
The Schauf surname is found mainly in Germany and Austria, with smaller concentrations in the United States and other countries. Today, it is one of the more common German last names, however, it is not as commonly heard in America.
Being of German descent, the family name carries a sense of resilience, hard-work and dedication. It reflects the cultural history and values of the German people: respectability, reliability, and harmonious living within the family.
In modern times, the Schauf name carries an overall sense of charm, good humor, adventure and optimism. It also exudes warmth, care and gentleness, as well as loyalty and support to those close to them. The Schauf family is an important part of Germany's rich cultural heritage, contributing to the country's cultural, social and economic life.
Order DNA origin analysisSchauf: Where does the name Schauf come from?
The last name Schauf is most commonly found in Germany today, with approximately 980 citizens bearing this surname. It is thought to be of German origin, although other countries in Europe and beyond could have adopted the name at some point. It is also common in Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, with smaller concentrations of Schaufs in France, the United States, and other countries.
The surname could have derived from the German word "schauf" meaning "scoop" or "shovel". It is believed that Schauf started off as a nickname for a person who had a fondness for digging or worked as a laborer in the fields and in mine pits. It is often associated with other surnames such as Scheufele, Schaufinger, and Schaufried.
Although it is not clear how or when the surname began to appear in Germany, records show that the Schauf family had a presence in the country since at least the 15th century AD. Today, the most iconic bearers of the family name is the famous Schauf family from Baden-Wurttemberg. This wealthy and influential family has included two bishops of the Catholic Church, several high-ranking politicians, and multiple members of the House of Baden-Wurttemberg, a major noble family in the area.
It is likely that the Schaufs of today are both related to the long line of Schauf families stretching back centuries ago, and those who later adopted the last name due to its German origin.
Variations of the surname Schauf
The surname Schauf is of German origin and is derived from the Middle High German word "schoufe" which means "tongs, shovel". Variants of the name include Schouf, Schauff, Schouff, Schoof, Shouff, Shouf and Schoufe. The simplest spelling is Schauf but there are alternate spellings which have developed over time.
In Germany, the "f" in the spelling of the name Schauf is often replaced by a "v" and forms the variant Schauv; in the Netherlands, the "v" is replaced by a "ph". This forms the Dutch form of the name Schauph.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname Schauf has a diagraph with "ch" instead of "sch", for instance Schauch, Schaucht or Schauche; a diagraph composed of "sh" instead of "sch" is also seen, forming the spellings Shauffer, Shauff and Shaufft.
The Schauf surname can be found in other European languages as well. In Czech, it appears as Schauf, Schaufa or Schouf; in Polish; it appears as Szauf, Szouf and Szoufa.
In some cases, the spelling of the surname can differ due to phonetic spelling. Variants such as Shauffer, Shauffel, Shaufelt, Shaufel, Schoff, Schoffel, Schaf, Schafer, Schaff, Schaffer, Schiffer and Schafer have been derived from the same root family.
In some families, the spelling of the surname has been altered either due to migration or political reasons. In Austria, the spelling was changed to Schaufelberg and in Slovakia it became Schaufelbauer.
In some cases, the surname Schauf has been adopted as a middle name or a given first name. Older records also indicate that the Schauf surname is linked to some of the oldest families of noble origins in the region and as such this surname is often used interchangeably with the noble title.
Famous people with the name Schauf
- Nik Schauf: American actor known for his appearance in the 2017 film The Greatest Showman
- Kurt Schauf: Professional American snowboarder and one of the members of the groundbreaking snowboard crew The Boom Boom Huck Jam
- Jan Schauf: German football coach manager and former player
- Rudi Schauf: German ski jumper who participated in the 1924 Winter Olympics
- Alfred Schauf: Austrian double ski champion in 1936 and 1938
- Hans Schauf: Regensburg police checkpoint commander and concentration camp guard during the Second World War
- Bridget Schauf: Irish actress, known for her roles in the BBC series Father Brown and The Brokenwood Mysteries
- Mathias Schauf: 19th-century German historian and geographer
- Chris Schauf: American Poker player, winner of three bracelets in the World Series of Poker
- Günther Schauf: German musicologist, professor of musicology at the University of Frankfurt am Main